Little Red Riding Hood 2016

It’s funny, for every person who says, “that’s awesome!” when they find out that I have a road bike, there’s another person who says, “ugh, I would never do that!”

They have all kinds of reasons – they hate cardio, the seat is uncomfortable, they dislike physical activity, they think the spandex outfits are stupid, they think it’s boring, they think it’s scary…

But, how strange is it, that people’s initial reaction to something that someone else loves is instant negativity? I’m certainly not immune to this – my friends that do ultramarathons and other crazy-long running events get an, “oof that sounds AWFUL!” from me. So, why? Why can’t I just go, “wow, that’s truly amazing!?” When I tell people about my latest half-century, why are so many of the reactions negative? Why do we make it about ourselves at all?

Food for thought :)


Anyway… I did the Little Red Riding Hood last weekend! I have an amazing aunt who lives up in Logan, and I LOVE this ride and this distance! I chose the 50 mile event, and it was simply perfect – warm weather, pretty scenery, delicious food, amazing (cross-dressing) volunteers, attentive support, fun and supportive participants (all women!), and a great opportunity to socialize and shop after crossing the finish line (okay, okay, I bought all the things. Not even sorry.). It gives me an opportunity to spend time outdoors, be alone with my thoughts, encounter wonderful people, be extremely grateful for my life, and generally appreciate things :)

Hands-down one of the best races/events that I have attended, I’ll definitely do this one for many years to come!

8 mile run

Yesterday was a milestone for me.

I've always complained about running. It's always been hard for me. From ankle pain to lack of endurance, it's just been plain unpleasant.

Last year, however, I decided I was going to try it for real. That meant getting running shoes (who knew it would make such a huge difference??? :)), sticking to a training plan, and actually running for longer than 15 minutes at a time.

I know. Earth-shattering. I'm super ahead of the times.

So, after finally applying myself, I was able to run 8 miles yesterday (only stopping at the water fountains along the trail). I know that, for many people, that's not a very major accomplishment... but, for me, that was huge :) :) :)



Next week is my tri, so no long run... but I'm excited to keep adding mileage! :)

Who wouldn't be obsessed over this water bottle??

Hydration. We all know how important it is. But why?

(because WebMD knows everything including why we’re all dying all of the time) "Hydration is important because the body is comprised mostly of water, and the proper balance between water and electrolytes in our bodies really determines how most of our systems function, including nerves and muscles," says Larry Kenney, PhD, a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Penn State.

Because it helps us to function and to not die, that’s why.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, hydration can be fun! And fashionable!!

Enter my new and loved water bottle.



I seriously love this thing. So so so cute – I actually drink more because I just love it so much haha. How very adult of me.

In addition to being adorable, it keeps things SO cold. Like, a few pieces of ice added to tap water and my drink is cold ALL DAY LONG. Even in a hot car. It’s amazing. Truly. I wouldn’t lie.

It’s kinda expensive and the top is too small for an ice dispenser, but I would still recommend it for anyone – hands down.

Now to decide what colors I need next… :)

Finding a Personal Trainer

Before working in the fitness world, I had a lot of misconceptions about what a good personal trainer should be like. As long as they look great, what they're doing must be working, right??

Unfortunately, not so much. I saw this great article and had some thoughts. There are so many people out there who got a little lucky genetically or who stumbled upon a good workout routine and worked their way to a rockin bod who still have no idea how to safely help people improve their lives and fitness levels.

First, many fitness certifications aren't regulated. You can take a little joke of a test online and print out your shiny certificate that says you're ready to train people. Even the ones that are legit often don't require more than a HS diploma and a little studying to pass a test. While this is a great educational opportunity, it doesn't necessarily prepare you for the ins and outs of taking someone's health and safety into your hands. So my first piece of advice would be to look into the educational background of a personal trainer you might be considering. Did they go to college for this? Just how many certifications do they have, and from which certifying body did they get those certifications? How long have they been doing this? Overall, just make sure the person knows what they are doing and has actual science to back it up.

Second, do they try pushing specific supplements, fad diets, or crazy workout regimens? If so, run for your life. While people are free to try these things (good luck with that), your personal trainer should stick to research-backed exercises, plans, and progressions... not magic pills and potions. And if they try to push ideas that they got out of a fitness magazine.... just don't.

Third, if your PT tries to write you a meal plan, get out. Only Registered Dietitians are legally allowed to do so, and any personal trainer who tries to pass that off is way out of line. Fitness (and a little bit of general nutrition advice) is the PT's domain. That's it.

Personal trainers can be an amazing tool in your health and fitness journey (people who use them lose more weight, on average), but just make sure you choose the right one :)

A Climbing Trip to St. George :)

Despite a cold and ongoing back problems, we took a wonderful car-camping (literally sleeping in the back of the Forerunner) and climbing trip with wonderful friends. So warm, so much good food, and soooo fun :)




Including a trip to the caves in Snow Canyon, climbing at Black Rock and Chuckwalla, a random dude who took a selfie on my phone, and some wonderful people :)

Beautiful Ski Day and Mint

So I've been nervous about skiing. Will it hurt my back? If I crash, will it set me back MONTHS??? Is it even worth it?


We went skiing today (Snowbird) and took it easy. And it was WONDERFUL! Didn't hurt too bad (Except when we had to push ourselves along flat parts), it was a gorgeous day, the runs we took weren't too crowded, we had delicious hot chocolate, I had a hot date... recipe for a perfect ski day. :)





Also, I've been wanting to grow mint (and basil) FOREVERRRRR... and today I got my wish. Say hello to my new little plant! Any tips on keeping it alive haha?

Thoughts on fitness for the new year

Resolutions! Goals! Yay!

While I don't really like to set NY resolutions, it is a great time to reevaluate the progress I'm making. I look at race calendars, personal study, my career, and more to see if I like where I'm at and where I'm heading.

Fitness goals are always in there, for me. And most people, I think. Lose weight, eat better, exercise more, run farther.... whatever those goals may be, I think the motivation behind them matters.

I heard two thoughts recently that I really like.

"Exercise to be strong and healthy. A beautiful soul needs a sturdy vessel."

"Do you work out because you love or hate your body?"

Just some food for thought - our goals should be based on positivity and wanting to accomplish something good rather than based on fear or negative feelings.

May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month!

Did you know that it's



?

Cause it totally is!


Funny how something like a themed month is so motivating for some people and so NOT for others. For me, at least, it gives me a little extra push to join in!

What sports or other physical activities will you/do you want to join in on this month?

For me it's biking, tennis, a little volleyball at work the other day (even though I don't even like vball), slacklining... and just about anything else that lets me enjoy warm weather!!!